Propelling mechanism for canal-boats



(No Model.)

. H. W. HILDEBRAND.

PROPELLING MECHANISM FOR CANAL BOATS.

No. 521,146, Patented June 5, 1894.

WITN ES.- v \{JVVENTOR Mm 6 Mtg ATTORNEY Tu: -A1'xcum. .|mcs3u=ume COMPANY. WASHINGTON. u. c.

( STATES.

HENRY W. HILDEBRAND, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

PROPELLING MECHANISM FOR CANAL-BOATS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 521,146, dated June 5, 1894.

Application filed December 11, 1893. Serial No, 493.302. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

l3e it known that I, HENRY W. HILDEBRAND, a c1 tizen of the United States'of America, residing at Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Propelling Mechanism for Canal-Boats; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tov make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in canal boat propulsion. V

The object sought through this invention is to, greatly increase the speed of this class ofboats as compared with that attained by the old style towing means, and at the same time, avoid any increased agitation of the water, except that incident to the increased speed of the boat. In other words, I am seeking to provide a practicable means of rapid propulsion other than through the agency of paddle Wheels or the propelling screw, since the last named means produce such an agitation of the water in the canal that they are found impracticable, since this agitation of the water washes the banks ofthe canal, and wears them away by erosion; and to this end, the invention consists of the features, arrangements and combinations hereinafter described and claimed, all of which will be fully understood by reference to the accompany ing drawings, in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a canal provided with my improvements. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the mechanism attached to the boat, a fragment of the deck being shown in section. Fig. 3 is a top view of the trolley, the boom being shown in section. Fig. 4 illustrates the cable and the manner of supporting it along the banks of the canal. Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line :m, Fig. 2, the parts below being shown in plan view.

Similar reference characters indicating corresponding parts or elements in the views, let the numeral designate the canal, to the banks of which is attached on either side, a

vthe boat.

stationary cable 6, by means of supports 7 suitably anchored and braced.

To the deck 8 of the boat is rotatably attached a platform 9 to which is made fast the lower extremity of a boom 10. In the lower part of this boom is journaled a shaft 12 to which is made fast a friction pulley 13 and a sprocket wheel 14. In the upper extremity of the boom is journaled a shaft 15 to which is made fast a sprocket wheel 16 and a pulley 17 having a grooved periphery adapted to engage the cable 6 above which it is located. The sprocket wheels 14 and 16 are connected by a chain 18. Upon the shaft 15 and located between the sprocket wheel and the pulley, is fulcrumed the lever 19. In the lower portion of the lever is journaled a shaft 20 carrying a grooved pulley 21 which lies in the same vertical plane as the similar pulley 17, and is adapted to engage the cable 6 underneath.

The lever 19 is slotted to receive the meshing gear Wheels 22 and 23 which are mounted on the shafts 15 and 20 respectively, to which they are made fast.

The lever 19 is provided with an arm 19 projecting above the mechanism just described, and provided with a threaded rod 24 swiveled on lugs made fast to the arm. Slidingly supported upon the arm 19 is a shoe 26 carrying a nut 26 through which the threaded rod 24 passes. To the shoe 26 is attached a weight 27, whereby friction between the cable and the engaging pulleys 17 and 21 is increased to any desired extent. This friction is regulated by the weight, which is adjusted by turning the rod 24, whereby the weight is moved up or down at will, the rod being provided with a hand wheel at its upper extremity.

Motion is communicated to the propelling mechanism by any suitable power carried by As shown in the drawings, this power Orprime-motor, may be designated by the numeral 28. The shaft 29 of the motor is provided with a fast pulley 30 which is connected by means of a belt 31 with a pulley 32 made fast on a shaft 33 journaled in the lower extremity of, the boom, and provided with a fast friction pulley which en= gages the pulley 13 heretofore described. By virtue of this connection, the shaft 12 is r0 rco Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The combination with a boom attached to the boat, of a trolley carried by the boom and composed of a weighted lever, two shafts journaled in the lever and carrying pulleys adapted to engage a suitable fast cable, both above and below, fast gears mounted on the pulley shafts and adapted to mesh, and suitable means connected with the boom for transmitting motion from a prime motor on the boat to the trolley, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the trolley mounted on the boom and composed of the lever, two shafts journaled therein, the pulleys mounted on the shafts and engaging a suitable fast cable, both above and below, meshing gears mounted on the pulley shafts, the lever being provided with an arm projecting above the cable and suitably weighted to produce the required friction between the cable and the engaging pulleys, and suitable means connected with the boom for transmitting motion from a prime motor on the boat to the trolley, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses. HENRY WV. IIILDEBRAND.

Witnesses:

G. J. ROLLANDET, CHAS. "E. DAWSON. 

